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What makes sodium hydroxide poisonous to humans?

By Steve Lombardi

On Thursday, January 14^th, a worker at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa passed away in the facility's laundry center. His name was David Weaver, and although the exact cause of his death was not yet determined, it was almost certainly linked to a spill of sodium hydroxide.

What is sodium hydroxide? Chemically speaking, it's a compound of sodium, hydroxide, and oxygen that is highly basic and reacts exothermically when combined with water, releasing large quantities of heat. It's also called ‘lye,' and its uses are numerous: cleaning supplies, paint stripper, drain cleaner, and even sometimes food cleanser. Most of us have cleaning supplies in our cupboards that we put up high so that the kids can't reach them – more likely than not, those gels and powders contain sodium hydroxide.

This raises the question: if sodium hydroxide is so common, and if it's always all around us, can it really be that dangerous? The answer is, unequivocally, yes. Sodium hydroxide has a strong caustic and corrosive effect on almost every material it comes into contact with, especially human tissue. It can burn ones' skin, sear one's lungs, and scar one's eyes. Metallurgists use the chemical to etch aluminum – imagine what it can do to a human body.

What can we learn from Mr. Weaver's death? When working with sodium hydroxide, we must exercise extreme caution. Always wear protective gear, including suitably thick gloves, masks, and glasses. Also, take a quick look around your house, and place any materials with warning labels out of reach of children. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

This accident may include issues of chemical handling, hazardous spills/containment and confined spaces along with other safety issues. Not enough is known yet about why the man was overcome and found unconscious. He may have done everything right; no matter if he did he is entitled to workers' compensation benefits and his dependents as well. Before taking on a hazardous spill contact your supervisor, know the protocol for handling a spill of the chemical and wear protective gear. After all you life may depend on it. Below are a few video clips discussing chemical handling, hazardous spills and confined spaces. If you work with sodium hydroxide or any other hazardous chemical read the material data safety sheets, take the training and if none is suggested by management, suggest they adopt a training program.

And as Mr. Conrad was fond of saying, let's be safe out there.

That's it for today, but if I can answer any of your questions follow the link and give me a call.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPYqAGA_aXs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCKgiO1roQ0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r2IpAHds9w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPoFtEBbjWI

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on January 25, 2010 (boomark / email).